House of the Samurai Invitational Tournament

This year’s House of the Samurai Invitational Tournament will be held on Saturday, May 10^th at the High School in Londonderry, NH.  (Driving directions are on the web site!)

For some, the idea of competing in a tournament is intimidating.  Others know that it’s only by facing our fears that we are able to grow beyond them.  This is a great opportunity to challenge yourself and display your skills – maybe even to do something that you never thought you’d be able to do.

The tournament is also a good opportunity to work with people from other Shidokan schools, to see different styles of karate, and maybe to learn a thing or two for your own training.

Ultimately, the tournament isn’t about how you place in your division – it’s about growing as a martial artist and as a person.

Best of luck to all of our students who are competing this year!!

Tournament Prep Sessions

Tournament Prep Sessions will be run in all classes during the week of April 30th to May 4th.  Students who will be competing will have the opportunity to practice and receive critique on kata/tae kiyoko.  All students are welcome to bring sparring gear to their classes - we will run kumite for those students who will be competing and would like some extra sparring time this week.

We are also looking for anyone who has a video camera with a playback feature, and who would be willing to film kata in class so students can see their performances this week.  Please feel free to come right in!

Junior Green & Brown Belt Testing

May’s Junior Green & Brown Belt Test will take place on Saturday, May 31^st, at 1:00pm. 

There will be a Pre-Test Review Session on Saturday, May 24^th, from 10:00 to 11:00am.  All Junior students of the level of Shichikyu (Blue Belt) and above are welcome to attend.  Cost is $15.  The purpose of this session is to focus on material that will be covered on this month’s test.  Students are welcome to take notes for themselves at this session, or to have their technique filmed by a parent for their reference as they prepare for the test.

Adult Green & Brown Belt Testing

June’s Adult Green & Brown Belt Test is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 27^th, at 1:00pm. 

There will be a Pre-Test Review Session on Friday, June 19^th, from 7:15 to 8:45pm.  All Adult students of the level of Shichikyu (Blue Belt) and above are welcome to attend.  Cost is $20.  The purpose of this session is to focus on material that will be covered on this month’s test.  Students are welcome to take notes for themselves at this session, or to pictures/video for their reference as they prepare for the test.

Brattleboro Seminars

Brattleboro School of BuDo will be offering a pair of seminars early this month.  These are posted in the dojo window - please ask Shihan for a copy of the flyer if you are interested.

The first seminar is on self-defense against knives and pistols on Saturday, May 3rd.  The seminar will run from 10:30am until 5:00pm, with approximately three hours spent on each weapon.  Cost for the public is $200, but we are being given a special price of $50.  For more info, see Shihan or go online at www.BrattleboroSchoolOfBudo.com.

RSMA  T-Shirts

We are now taking orders for RSMA T-shirts.  T-shirts show the kanji for “Goju” (our style of karate) on the front and the dojo emblem on the back in full color.  Cost is $15 per shirt.  Orders may be placed in the office through May 12^th.

Please note that, during the summer months (June, July, and August), students are allowed to wear their dojo T-shirt instead of their gi jacket.  Only the RSMA T-shirt will be allowed for dojo use. 

Special Offer:  Order two T-shirts, and get a $5 discount on our training DVD:

Karate Basics for Parents and Children

This DVD is designed to help parents support their children’s karate practice at home.  It covers most of the basic techniques taught in the Beginner/Novice curriculum, with emphasis on the major details and how to apply them.  This is a good resource for Beginner and Novice students of all ages. 

KidsFest Demo

Each year, we participate in the KidsFest event on the Newport Town Common.  This is a great way to show the public what karate is all about.  Keep an eye out for more info as June draws nearer.

Kobudo Testing

Rank testing in Kobudo will be held in class during the month of June.  Kobudo students will receive testing invitations in the mail.

Attendance Policies

In order to ensure optimum training conditions, RSMA has the following attendance policies:

Students arriving 5 minutes late to class will not receive attendance credit for that class.  Students arriving 10 minutes late to class (5 minutes for Little Ninjas) will not be allowed to enter the class.  Absolutely no one will be allowed to enter a rank test late.

Students are encouraged to attend at least two classes per week.  Attending less often than this will hinder a student’s progress.

Shorin Ryu Testing

Rank testing in Shorin Ryu will take place in Doshi Kai classes and Extensions during the months of May.  Doshi Kai members who have the material required for their next ranks are welcome to sign up with Shihan.

Class Cancellations

Classes are cancelled on the following days:

Dojo Rules

Students are asked to be aware of the Dojo Rules.  You are not permitted to practice techniques which have not been formally taught by an instructor.  In other words, no one should be attempting to imitate techniques which they have not been taught.  Failure to comply may result in a reduction of rank!!

Making Payments

Just a reminder on making payments:

§         Make testing fee checks out to Shidokan International and bring them to our office.

§         For all other payments, checks should be made out to Rising Sun Martial Arts (unless otherwise specified).

o   Students who do not have active memberships will not receive class credits, and may not be allowed to participate in class.

When in doubt, feel free to ask any of our office staff.

Reminders

Tardiness – Any students arriving 5 min late to class will not receive attendance credit for that class.  Students arriving 10 min late will not be allowed to participate in that class.

Jewelry – The only jewelry that is permitted in the dojo are wedding bands and new earrings (which must remain in for several weeks – these must be taped!).  Cloth wrist and ankle bracelets are considered jewelry and are not allowed.  This is for your safety!

Rank Test Standards

The secret to success in the martial arts is consistent training.  Ideally, this means twice per week.

Please note that students who have completed the requirements for their next rank, but have not been training consistently may not be invited to test.  Inconsistent attendance affects technique.  Hopefully, this policy will help to raise the standards that we set for ourselves in our training.

Water, Water, Everywhere…Then Why Aren’t We Drinking Enough?
By Marge Pagliuca

Water is the most vital fluid for life.  It is important for homeostasis, or balance, within our bodies.  The more water we lose, the more we need to take in.  As karate students, it is important to hydrate ourselves well, before coming to class both in the cooler and warmer months.  However, it is equally important that we stay hydrated throughout our training.

Ever hear the words, “If you can’t hold off getting water for a one-hour class then you shouldn’t be training in this class”?  Not true!  It is a myth that training without water will condition you and makes you tougher.  When we exercise strenuously our muscles work harder, more heat is generated and more water is lost.  If we do not drink water throughout our workout, we run the risk of becoming dehydrated - even in winter.  While most cases of dehydration occur during physical activity at higher outdoor temperatures, dehydration also occurs during strenuous exercise at lower outdoor temperatures.  The result to our bodies is a feeling of thirst, cramped muscles, dizziness, upset stomach, and severe headache.  Being thirsty is annoying when you are in the middle of an intense workout, but becoming dehydrated, even mildly, has far more serious implications.

Thirst is the body’s signal that the water level is getting too low.  But only drinking when you feel thirsty is often too late.  When you sweat a lot, or the humidity is low, then you must drink often.  Children and older adults have an especially unreliable thirst mechanism.  So should frequent water breaks upset the dynamics of a class?  Definitely not!  It is essential for all students to stay hydrated, so frequent water breaks can be an important part of training.

Well-organized karate instructors plan their classes ahead, including spaces for water breaks.  Truly conditioned and focused karate students know that they can increase their levels of intensity and give their maximum effort once their bodies are in balance.  This is an important part of finding the balance between the body, mind and spirit that we all seek.

Note to Kobudo Students

As the Kobudo class grows, I will need some assistance in helping to keep it running smoothly.  All Kobudo students to please note the following:

• Privately owned weapons which have not been labeled with the individual owner's kanji will no longer be allowed on the weapons rack.  Please either label them or take them home.

• Any weapons students of the rank of Jukyu or above may opt to purchase a Bo.  Students must purchase their own Bo by the rank of Hachikyu.